Investment Q&A

Q: Hope everyone at 5i is doing well in these times!

I have been sitting on mostly cash in my RRSP/LIRA and would like your recommendations on the best ETFs to consider for my full US and International exposure. All of these would need to be listed on the TSX as I am purchasing in CAD $. While I know you prefer non-hedged, I’d greatly appreciate if you could explain benefits/workings of hedged vs. non-hedged considering the current environment. And provide ETF recommendations for each.

I am looking to achieve a balance of diversification, reasonable MER, minimizing any withholding tax while optimizing the potential in market recovery. For US, I would like to have a technology ETF, health care ETF and a broader spectrum ETF – but also open to ideas. Also, looking for recommendations on International – one broad ETF or perhaps that and a mix of ETFs. I recognize there can be overlap (e.g. between a tech and broad sector fund), so if you can give me a sense of the degree of duplication that may be present in your recommendations. Perhaps going heavier on tech right now could be a good thing.

While I started off thinking ETF selections would be relatively simple, in reading various Q&A there seem to be many important considerations - your assistance is appreciated. Again, all of these are being purchased in RRSP/LIRA accounts with the goal of optimizing my returns over a 10 year window.

Q: Any concern on their dividend? Looking at their annual report for 2019, payout ratio is close to 70%. If this is correct, doesn’t leave much room to increase the dividend or re-invest back into the business for growth.... I would hate to see an equity raise in the near future or see then use their cash balance for a dividend increase. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Q: What would you do with RX after recent results?
Thanks for helping during these difficult times.

Q: With the possible exception of MDT or ISRG, some of the US listed medical stocks remain down near their lows while other names have rallied hard. I am interested in the companies above and wonder if you can tell me if each would be a buy for you at current levels? Again each are down a lot, have favourable analyst ratings but haven't bounced much. Are there any on this list you DO NOT like?

Q: I am hearing on news that few of Senior homes dosent have all the expertise how to deal with VIRUS . Can you please advise if SIS will benefit if baby boomers decides to stay at home instead of senior housing.
Do you think in future seniors will decide to stay at home instead of senior housing

Thanks for the great service

Q: My average price on COV is $4.97, so ... I'm down 78% as of this morning. I was thinking of dumping it, finally, and topping up my position in GUD with the proceeds -- unless you feel there is some evidence that this stock will come back to life. It never was a big holding -- but it seems to me the cash would be better used elsewhere. I'd like to stay in a healthcare growth position. GUD is presently 2.5% of portfolio.

Q: Akumin is an US based company operating independent medical testing centres. They just announced to dedicate 10 test centers for Coronavirus imaging. Why is stock down sharply today with the news? Are medical testing centers beneficiaries under current situation?

Thank for your great services!

Q: I have been following ABT and RMD recently. They have both been trading down the last couple of days when the market is up.

Could you please provide your thoughts on why these companies are down relative to the market recently? I would have thought that they would be doing well given the current situation.

Thank you.

Q: In light of the Coronavirus , what are your thoughts about US health care etf’s over the next year.
Thanks,
Phil

Q: Can you offer any insight into why Viemed is one of the only stocks that has seemed to "bounce" at all? It hit 3.36 5 days ago and is back up to 6.54. Is this just from extra buying because of the low price or was there some really good news for them somewhere?

Q: Do you consider THC a good investment now.

Q: Is this a buy today? Just read the headline below on the heels of hearing nothing but "not enough ventilators" on CNBC all day

Medtronic Boosts Ventilator Production in Response to Public Health Emergency
19 Mar 2020 04:37 ET
04:37 AM EDT, 03/19/2020 (MT Newswires) -- Medtronic (MDT) said Wednesday that it is doubling its production capacity to meet the high demand for ventilators which will be used by hospitals in the management of the COVID-19 respiratory disease.

Q: I own some of this at around 85 cents. I am shocked (but pleased) that this stock has really held up during this market carnage. Any change in sentiment from you folks? Any idea why it has such staying power?

Q: Dear Sirs,
What do you think of BMY at this time? Do you think it's too early to be buying these guys? I don't see anything they're doing regarding coronavirus treatment, so they may keep falling for awhile. They've done some good stuff recently: acquired Celgene (cancer) and Medarex (cancer) and have a leading drug partnered with Pfizer (prevention of blood clots caused by atrial fibrillation). They're down to about $49 from about $65 a month ago (like everyone). Thank you.

Q: HI there,

Two part question here. First, why is EXAS (in your opinion) being crushed so badly? It has fallen much more than GH. Something fundamentally wrong or one you would expect to bounce back hard and is thus worth adding to.

Secondly, would you suggest taking a 50% loss on EXAS to move to something like ABBV that pays a 7%+ dividend and seems safer? Jim Cramer advocates selling some stocks to move into more premium stocks that are also down and I'm wondering if this would be an example.

Please feel free to take 2 credits and provide complete answers to each part.

Q: What are you thoughts on this stock after the massive correction post earnings? I was fortunate to get off a portion of my position at the top. Thanks.

Q: The ETF Portfolios tend to indicate a preference for CDN Hedged ETF's. (XQQ; XHC). Do you still prefer CDN Hedged ETFs today? Can you suggest non-hedged alternatives?

Q: Hi Guys
Thanks for all your help during this little blip in the market. Thinking that with the new focus on Covid-19 treatment, medical supply companies might be a good investment, at least in terms of consumables. Do you think that might be a wise investment and if so do you have any favourites at this time?

Thanks

Stuart

Q: Do you know if Knight has re-purchased more shares since the monumental price decline?
Do you have any indication Medisen has reduced their share position from 10.4M shares?
Has Knight given any info on it's progress purchasing Biotoscan public shares?
Is this a good environment for JG to look for great bargains or will he let the dust settle and get their new acquisition going first?
Finally, is there a short position on Knight?
Whew! Thank you.

Q: When do they report ? Thanks.